ESSEX COUNTY GENERAL SERVICE DISTRICT 23 OPERATING PROCEDURES PURPOSE The object of this structure and operating procedure is to provide for the continuing successful operation of a united effort of Groups in Essex County. All provisions of this operating procedure and all actions of the District General Service ought to conform to the principles of the Twelve Traditions, Twelve Concepts, and the AA Service manual, and adhere to the primary purpose of Alcoholics Anonymous-to carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers. ORGANIZATION The committee known as "Essex County General Service Committee" shall be called the "District Committee". The District Committee shall be composed of the following: OFFICERS: : District Committee Member (DCM) : Alternate District Committee Member (Alt. DCM) : Secretary : Treasurer SUB-COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS: : Co-Operation with the Professional Community (CPC)/Public Information (PI) : Correctional Facilities : Grapevine : Literature : Newsletter/Website : One-Day Round-Up : Telephone Answering Service (TAS) : Treatment Facilities : Workshop GROUP REPRESENTATIVES: : General Service Representative (GSR) : Alternate General Service Representative (Alt. GSR) Page 1 of 5
DUTIES All members of Alcoholics Anonymous have a right to be present at District meetings. Members of the District Committee have a voice during the business of the District meeting. VISITORS will be permitted to share at the discretion of the DCM. All District Officers and Sub-Committee Chairpersons are to attend monthly meetings and submit written reports for the minutes. By a motion in February 1993, if any Officer or Sub- Committee Chairperson misses or does not send a report to 3 (three) consecutive meetings, this would be accepted as a resignation and an election will take place at the next District Meeting. District Officers will review the financial report every 3 (three) months and view on-line bank records. DISTRICT COMMITTEE MEMBER (DCM): Shall chair monthly District Meetings and fulfill duties as outlined in the AA Service Manual. The DCM shall represent the District at Area Assemblies and Area Committee Meetings. Past GSR's, Committee Officers and Sub-Committee Chairpersons are eligible to stand for DCM at election. ALTERNATE DISTRICT COMMITTEE MEMBER (Alt.DCM): Shall assist the District Committee Member in carrying out duties within the District and shall keep up-to-date on all matters in the District in order to be able to take over the position of DCM if necessary. The Alternate DCM shall also attend Area Assemblies and Area Committee Meetings. The Alternate DCM shall be the Registrar for the District and forward any changes of District Officers, Sub- Committee Chairpersons and GSR's to the Area Registrar. SECRETARY: Shall record minutes of monthly meetings and mail or email a copy of the minutes to all GSR's, District Officers, District Sub-Committee Chairpersons, Area Officers and to Area Sub-Committee Chairpersons. The secretary shall also keep an up-to-date list of groups and mailing list of GSR's and Alternate GSR's. TREASURER: Shall receive and record contributions from the Groups in the District. The Treasurer shall set up a bank account with signing privileges to the Treasurer, DCM and the Alt.DCM with two signatures required. The Treasurer will give a monthly report on the financial status of the District. The treasurer will present at the November meeting of each year a proposed BALANCED budget for the group's approval and will be in effect until a new budget has been approved. The Prudent Reserve shall be 1/4 or 25% of the Approved Budget rounded up to the next $100.00 unit. At the year end, when all incoming funds have been received and all outstanding bills paid, we will disperse all funds above our Prudent Reserve in this manner: 25% to General Service Office in New York and 75% to Area 86 Western Ontario General Service. Our year ends on December 31. It is suggested that all Sub-Committee Chairpersons attend Area 86 Assemblies. It is suggested that all Committees are formed with volunteers obtained from Past or Present Group GSR's. Sub-committee Chairpersons will be paid for accommodations to attend the Spring and Fall Assemblies. Page 2 of 5
CO-OPERATION WITH THE PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY (CPC) / PUBLIC INFORMATION: Shall form a committee to carry the AA message to the still suffering alcoholic by informing the professional (e.g. doctor, lawyer, clergy, etc.) "third person" whose work is or may be involved with the active alcoholic. Also, shall carry the AA message to the still suffering alcoholic indirectly, as well as directly, by informing the general public about the AA program and by keeping the fellowship well informed, so that members and groups may carry the message more effectively (e.g. schools, radio stations etc.). CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES: Shall obtain volunteers for the institutional meetings held in the County Jail of Windsor. The Correctional Facilities Chairperson shall ensure that members will abide by the guidelines of the Institution as well as AA guidelines for Institutions. He/she will also be a contact person with the Probation Officers in the District and help implement the Bridging the Gap guidelines with the Treatment Facilities sub-committee chairperson. GRAPEVINE: Shall form a committee of Grapevine representatives for all Groups in the District. The Grapevine Chairperson shall see that the District and members are aware of the availability and the value of the Grapevine magazine and other publications. The Grapevine Chairperson shall make a Grapevine display available to Groups, Workshops or Round-Ups on request. A complete inventory of supplies will be given at every June and December meetings. LITERATURE: Shall have a supply of AA conference Approved Literature and District Group Meeting lists for Groups of the District upon request. The Literature Chairperson shall make a Literature display available to Groups, Workshops or Round-Ups on request. A complete inventory of materials on hand will be given at every June and December meetings. Tokens also sold by Literature. NEWSLETTER/WEBSITE: Shall form a committee to assume the responsibilities of the District 23 website and is accountable to create a Newsletter (frequency is at the committee s discretion/participation) that may contain district announcements, group member's birthdays and articles related on AA topics. ONE DAY ROUND-UP: Shall form a committee to put on a One Day Round-Up. The Chairperson shall try to recruit a member from each Group in the District. The Chairperson will be responsible for securing the Kingsville Pavilion for 2 years in advance on the Civic Holiday Weekend in August. Any changes of date, must meet the approval of District 23. The One Day Round-up reserve fund will be $1750.00 anything left over will go to the district. The chairperson will book the caterer one year in advance. TELEPHONE ANSWERING SERVICE (TAS): Shall form a Committee with the purpose of answering the cell phone, assess the caller's needs. If the caller needs someone to talk to, have someone from the Answering Service Committee return a call. If the caller requests a visit from our fellowship, dispatch two members from our 12 Step volunteers. The TAS Chairperson shall insure that all volunteers and members on the TAS committee have the necessary literature and information necessary to perform their duties. The TAS Chairperson, committee members and volunteers shall follow District 23 Telephone Answering Service Guidelines. Page 3 of 5
TREATMENT FACILITIES/BRIDGING THE GAP: Shall form a committee with the purpose of making contact with Treatment Facilities and Bridging the Gap requests within the District. The chairperson is also, a liaison with the Corrections Sub-Committee chairperson. The Treatment Facilities/Bridging the Gap Chairperson and Committee shall announce about AA members in the hospital and visit AA members in treatment facilities and hospitals when called upon. The Treatment Facilities/Bridging the Gap Chairperson shall provide pamphlets and used Grapevines to District Treatment Facilities and address any special needs or concerns. WORKSHOP: Shall form a committee to put on workshops concerning AA topics. The Workshop Chairperson shall also help a Group present a workshop upon their request. The Workshop shall be kept separate from the One-Day Round-Up, as the Workshop only requires a start-up budget of $100.00 The Workshop Chairperson is required to have 1 (one) workshop each year of their term. GENERAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (GSR): Shall represent the Group at the monthly District meeting. The Alternate GSR can represent the Group if the GSR is absent. Group Conscience elects a GSR and an Alt.GSR for the same two-year period as the District committee. Groups have supported their GSR's and Alt.GSR's in attending the Area Assemblies in order to carry their Group Conscience to the Area Assemblies. It is preferred that one member perform the duties of one position, however if enough volunteers are not available, a capable member may perform the duties of 2(two) positions until a member volunteers to assume the duties of the available position. VOTING PRIVILEGES ON BUSINESS MATTERS Only GSR's shall be considered eligible to vote on Business matters brought before the District Committee. Each Group has but 1 (one) vote. The Alternate GSR may vote only if the GSR is absent. District Officers and Sub-Committee Chairpersons can vote on matters concerning District business which does not call for Group Conscience. ELECTION OF DISTRICT COMMITTEE All positions will be elected at the September meeting in odd numbered years. At the elections, all positions will be filled by nominations and voted according to the Third Legacy Procedures as outlined in the Service Manual. In the case of Correctional Facilities, Treatment Facilities, Telephone Answering Service and the Round-Up Coordinators, it might be wise to elect someone who has been on the committee previously. Person s running for Treasurer and One Day Round Up positions should have at least 2 (two) years of continuous sobriety. REVISION AND AMENDMENT OF OPERATING PROCEDURES The District Operating Procedures will be reviewed and proposed for revision by groups at the October meeting following the election. A meeting of outgoing and incoming District Officers will be held prior to the meeting if required. Page 4 of 5
Under this article the DCM will implement approved changes to the Essex County General Service District 23 Operating Procedures with the assistance of the District Officers for the start of the new rotation. Approved revisions and amendments implemented December 2013. Page 5 of 5